Miriam’s Vision: A Response to the 2005 London Bombings Citizenship Different Needs, Common Ground Case Study: Heathrow Third Runway

What are they thinking?

Heathrow Airport is the busiest airport in the UK. It is used by 73 million passengers a year – more than the entire population of the UK!

Heathrow has two runways. The company that owns the airport wants to build a third one. Look at the picture. What problems might a third runway cause?

Do you think these people are for or against a new runway? Why?

Watch the video: “Heathrow Picnic & Protest” 1.Are they for or against a third runway? Why? 2.How are they protesting? 3.What do you think about the way the police deal with the protest? 4.Will the protest make a difference? Why / why not? 5.Is right to take her children along? Why / why not?

Last session we learned about the tools of change. How could you campaign for or against a new runway at Heathrow?

You are… 1.Residents of Sipson (a village that will be destroyed if the third runway is built) 2.Workers at Heathrow airport 3.Businesspeople who often fly to other countries for meetings 4.Ordinary people worried about climate change 5.An MP for the area around Heathrow 6.Greenpeace, an environmental pressure group 7.Bosses at BAA, the company that owns Heathrow Airport Are you for or against a third runway at Heathrow? How are you going to get what you want? Use the sheet to start helping you plan – be creative!

Write to your MP today – there’s no time to delay! Put pressure on your MP to support the expansion. What are these posters encouraging you to do?

Now, make your own poster to show one of your ideas. Success criteria Your poster should: clearly say what you want people to do have a memorable slogan use creative images or design Success criteria Your poster should: clearly say what you want people to do have a memorable slogan use creative images or design Push yourself… Write a speech explaining why your idea is a good way to make change. Push yourself… Write a speech explaining why your idea is a good way to make change.

1.One reason why people might join in with the idea. 2.One reason why people might not join in. For example: Your idea to write a song about the runway sounds really fun… …but people who aren’t good at music wouldn’t be able to get involved On your post-it note, write:

1.Read the six case studies and match each one to a picture. 2.Read source A. What information would they need to include on their leaflet? 3.Read source C. Why do you think this MP is against the runway? 4.Read source E. Were the protesters right to do what they did? Give reasons. 5.Read source F. What is a petition? Do you think the Prime Minister will listen? 6.Which is the best way of making change? Give reasons for your answer. People who are against the runway have done lots of different things to try and stop it. There are six examples on the sheet.

The big vote! I vote against a third runway at Heathrow I abstain I vote for a third runway at Heathrow

Questions 1.Does everybody who wants the runway have the same reasons for wanting it? What about the people who were against the runway? 2.Why is it important to find evidence to support your view? 3.Is it easy to make change? Why / why not?